The Cotton Anniversary

Dried cotton from Flower Girl

Yesterday was our cotton wedding anniversary, and so it seemed fitting that the entire city was blanketed in white. Almost no one was out on the streets as we walked through the blizzard to get out and celebrate, piled in boots, hats, scarves and double socks. My outfit wasn't exactly chic (my all black look paired with snowboots, rather than prada maryjanes) but I still managed to wear red lipstick.

It was a small miracle when our babysitter arrived - right on time - and so we headed out to Perla for some pre-dinner cocktails and an exchange of gifts: letters written on cotton paper. I made a little trivia game for us to play on little cards with illustrations on one side and questions on the other. A lipstick on one side revealed, "what are the little details you remember about our first date?" (I was horrified because Peter picked me up right at my apartment door and my place reeked like the lamb burgers I'd just finished; I spent forever trying to get my just-long-enough hair into a bun). A fire on another card asked, "what would you save from our an apartment in a fire (assuming everyone in the family is safe!)?" (Peter, always practical, said the valuables. I said I'd go after his sweater collection.) I also looked back in my gchat history and printed little moments of things I first told my friends about Pete. They were hilarious and we both laughed.

I thought I was being extravagant when I tracked down a branch of dried cotton to give to Pete as a gift, in addition to his card and trivia game. It isn't easy to find in this city but dried cotton is generally available at Flower Girl on Eldridge Street for $18 a branch (pictured above is a single branch). But then, after we finished our trivia game, as Peter was giving me his card, he pulled out a diamond eternity band set in gold engraved with "for miles and miles" with tears in his eyes. I was shocked! I'm never surprised! What a doll I married.

After drinks I was able to stare at my new bling in better lighting at Sushi Nakazawa, which Pete Wells will tell you is excellent. It was an amazing experience, a little meal in each bite and fascinating to watch. Mr. Nakazawa was good natured and a crowd pleaser and everyone who was there had made the trek in the snowstorm, having made reservations at 12:01 am thirty days in advance. So it was a fun little group. In truth, the 9:30 seating was a little too late for me. I shouldn't have showed up so hungry. I left with the perfect feeling - full and satisfied but not overfull. But Mr. Nakazawa prepares each piece of sushi individually for each of the 12 counter eaters, for a series of 21 bites. It took a while to get five or six bites in and while the bites were glorious - it did little to satisfy my empty belly at first.

Surprise! Luckily you can't see my heinously unmanicured (for five months) nails The best cocktail on the menu at the moment is the Tigerjuice